Howie Newman
MUSIC, COMEDY and MORE
MUSIC AND COMEDY
One of the most engaging performers on the
New England folk circuit, Howie Newman
combines music, comedy and audience
participation to provide a truly unique
entertainment experience.
His amusing compositions are up-tempo and
catchy, and he keeps things lively with funny
between-songs banter and short comedy bits
(there is also a smattering of serious songs).
Song topics include television commercials, getting up in the morning, cell
phones, middle age dating, intergalactic garbage collection and more. And the
material is totally clean, suitable for all ages.
THE COMEBACK
In the spring of 2001, Newman decided it was time to hit the folk music circuit
again after an 18-year hiatus. He had been promoting local folk musicians with
his own small company, Northeast Publicity, as a means of transitioning into a
public relations career.
"I went to folk shows, hung out with musicians and followed the scene more
closely," he recalled. "And I thought to myself, 'Hey, I can do this, too. And I can
do it a lot better than I did before.'
"I just basically do the opposite of what everyone else does," says Newman.
"Most singer-songwriters throw in a funny song here and there to change the
pace. I do mostly funny material and use my serious stuff for a change of pace.
It kind of calms everyone down. For a while, anyway."
Newman has opened for Tom Paxton, Vance Gilbert, Bill Staines, Lui Collins, Don
White, Modern Man and many others. His songs have received national airplay
on the Dr. Demento Show, National Public Radio and Midnight Special as well as
dozens of other outlets across North America.

2006: NEW CD
In May 2006, Newman released Trust Me You’ll
Like It, a lively collection of funny and satirical
songs (there are also four serious tunes).
The album features some of the top local
musicians, including guitarist Duke Levine
(Mary Chapin Carpenter band), reed player
Billy Novick (New Black Eagle Jazz Band) and
keyboard whiz Jim Gambino (Swinging Steaks).
BASEBALL MUSIC
In 2001, Newman reissued his 1979 collection of baseball songs, Baseball’s
Greatest Hits, Volume 1, as a CD.
He released his second compilation of diamond delights, Baseball’s Greatest Hits,
Volume 2, in 2008. The CD includes a whimsical look at the defection of Johnny
Damon to the Yankees, a salute to the 2004 World Champions ("It’s the End of
the Curse and We Know It," an R.E.M. parody) and a dissertation on the
legendary Mendoza Line.
Both CDs have been accepted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame Archive in
Cooperstown, N.Y.
Click here for further information about Howie's baseball songs.
PERSONAL
The popularity of his baseball music led to an 18-year sportswriting career.
Newman covered two World Series, five NBA Finals and four Stanley Cup finals
writing for the Patriot Ledger, Lowell Sun, Boston Globe, Associated Press and
Lynn Item.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he moved to Boston in 1968 to attend Northeastern
University. He’s lived in the greater Boston area ever since.